Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39334554›Full record

ReviewJournal of clinical nursing2025

Women's Experiences of Intimate and Sexual Relationships During Menopause: A Qualitative Synthesis.

Hatice Bulut, Sharron Hinchliff, Parveen Ali, Hilary Piercy

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Journal of clinical nursing, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Women's experiences of sexuality during menopausal transition: An interview study.European journal of obstetrics & gynecology and reproductive biology: X · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Hatice BulutDivision of Obstetrics and Gynaecologic Nursing, Department of Nursing, Süleyman Demirel University Faculty of Health Science, Isparta, Turkey.ORCID 0000-0001-5574-5681
Sharron HinchliffSchool of Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-6180-1165
Parveen AliSchool of Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-7839-8130
Hilary PiercyHealth Research Institute, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-7663-8858

Funding

Republic of Turkey Ministry of National Education
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimThe aim of this literature review was to explore women's experiences of their intimate and sexual relationships during menopause.

backgroundEvidence shows that the menopause transition can be a difficult time for women due to symptoms of menopause. There is little research evidence about how menopause-related symptoms impact women's intimate and sexual relationships.

methodA qualitative synthesis was carried out on research published between May 2005 and July 2023 using five electronic databases: ASSIA, CINAHL, PubMed, PsycINFO and Web of Science. We also searched Google Scholar and used backward and forward chaining methods to identify results not listed in the databases and ensure that no relevant literature was omitted.

resultsEighteen qualitative studies were included in this review. Six main themes were identified: the meaning of menopause to women in different cultures; factors affecting women's sexual lives; changes in sexual desire and orgasm; talking about sexual issues; women's attempts to overcome the impact of ageing and menopause on their sexual lives; and concerns about partner sexual satisfaction during the menopause.

conclusionDuring the menopause transition, women can experience sexual difficulties that have an impact on their lives and intimate relationships. Qualitative studies showed that sexual changes associated with menopause can be difficult to manage and must be viewed in the social and cultural contexts of the women's lives. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The results of this review will be of interest to nurses to assess patient needs while offering health services to women in menopause. In addition, the results can be used to inform education and support programmes for women. REPORTING

methodWe have adhered to relevant EQUATOR guidelines and used the PRISMA-ScR reporting method. No patient or public contribution was required for this study.

Indexed as

Interpersonal RelationsMenopauseSexual BehaviorSexual PartnersAdultFemaleHumansMiddle AgedQualitative Researchintimate relationshipsmenopausequalitative synthesissexuality

Identifiers

PMID39334554
PMCPMC12037939

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.